Parcast

Parcast is a digital media firm and podcast network, that specialized in producing both scripted podcasts as well as audio dramas. It was founded in 2016 by podcaster Max Cutler and his father Ron Cutler in Los Angeles California.[1]

Parcast
TypePodcast network
Country
United States
First air date
2016 (2016)
AvailabilityInternational
OwnerSpotify
Established2016
Official website
parcast.com

In 2019, it was acquired by Sweden-based media firm and streaming service provider Spotify.[2] Spotify spent over $56 million to acquire Parcast, however the total compensation has been reported to be over $100 million.[3][4] This makes the Parcast acquisition one of the largest podcasting platform mergers in US history and largest single acquisition deal of Spotify's $400 million acquisition program.[5] On June 5, 2023, Spotify sent a memo to staff announcing that Parcast will be merged with Gimlet Media into a single Spotify Studios division, as part of a restructuring that also included the elimination of 200 jobs.[6]

History

Cutler, a 27-year old graduate of the University of Arizona, launched Parcast in 2016. He was inspired by the hit podcast Serial, itself a spinoff of This American Life. He believed that his network could produce podcasts of comparable quality while saving money on the production of individual episodes.[7]

Parcast's original focus was on producing scripted true crime series, but their scope expanded into the mystery, science fiction, and history genres as well as fictional audiodramas.[8][9]

Parcast produced over 40 daily and weekly shows, supported by a team of more than 75 voice actors, producers, and scriptwriters.[8] Following a decline in demand for the shows and the anticipated merger of Gimlet Media and Parcast into a single Spotify Studios subsidiary, the firm is expected to be disbanded sometime in 2023.[10][11]

Audience

According to due diligence performed by Spotify, over 75% of Parcast's audience is female.[12]

Series produced[13]
Title Hosts / Cast Members Genre Update schedule
Adulting with Teala & Nia Teala Dunn, Nia Sioux Society/Culture Wednesdays
Assassinations Kate Leonard, Bill Thomas True crime Mondays
Blind Dating Tara Michelle Massicotte Romance Wednesdays
Cold Cases Carter Roy True Crime Mondays
Con Artists Alastair Murden True crime Wednesdays
Conspiracy Theories Molly Brandenburg, Carter Roy Pop history Wednesdays
Conspiracy Theories: CIA Edition Miscellaneous True Crime Thursday
Conspiracy Theories: Music Edition Molly Brandenburg, Carter Roy True Crime Wednesdays
Crime Bites Miscellaneous True crime Miscellaneous
Crime Countdown Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley True Crime Mondays
Crimes of Passion Lanie Hobbs True crime Wednesdays
Criminal Couples Miscellaneous True Crime Mondays
Cults Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson Pop history/true crime Tuesdays
Daily Quote Kate Leonard Self-Help Daily
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown Brené Brown Society/Culture Mondays
Deathbed Confessions Estefania Hageman Society/Culture Wednesday
Dictators Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Tuesdays
Dog Tales Alastair Murden Pop history Mondays
Espionage Carter Roy Pop history Mondays
Extraterrestrial Bill Thomas, Tim Johnson Pop history Tuesdays
Faerie N/A Audiodrama Mondays
Famous Fates Vanessa Richardson, Carter Roy Society/History/Culture Wednesdays
Female Criminals Vanessa Richardson, Sami Nye True crime Wednesdays
Gone Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner True crime Alternate Mondays
Great Women of Business Vanessa Richardson, Molly Brandenburg Business documentary N/A (Limited series)
Haunted Places Greg Polcyn Parapsychology Thursdays
Haunted Places: Ghost Stories Alastair Murden Parapsychology Thursdays
Historical Figures Carter Roy, Vanessa Richardson Pop history Alternate Wednesdays
Hostage Irma Blanco, Carter Roy True crime Thursdays
Impostors: The Commander Abby Ellin True Crime Mondays
Impostors: The Spy Alex French Investigative Journalism Mondays
Incredible Feats with Dan Cummins Dan Cummins Documentary Weekdays
International Infamy with Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers True Crime Tuesdays
Internet Urban Legends Loey Lane, Snitchery Paranormal Tuesdays
Kingpins Kate Leonard, Howell Hargest True crime Fridays
Medical Murders Alastair Murden, Dr. David Kipper True crime Wednesdays
Medical Mysteries Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner Medical documentary Tuesdays
Mind's Eye N/A Audiodrama N/A (Limited series)
Mythical Monsters Vanessa Richardson Mythology retelling Mondays
Mythology Vanessa Richardson Mythology retelling Tuesdays
Natural Disasters Kate Leonard, Tim Johnson Science/History/Culture Thursdays
Not Guilty Vanessa Richardson True crime Mondays
Obituaries Vanessa Richardson, Carter Roy History Wednesdays
Obsessed Benito Skinner, Marry Beth Baron Comedy Mondays
Our Love Story N/A Stories Tuesdays
Political Scandals Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Political documentary Tuesdays
Rituals Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz True Crime Mondays
Scotland Yard Confidential John Hopkins True Crime Thursdays
Secret Societies Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Mondays
Serial Killers Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson True crime Mondays and Thursdays
Solved Murders Carter Roy, Wenndy Mackenzie True Crime Wednesday
Sports Criminals Tim Johnson, Carter Roy True Crime/History/Sports Thurdays
Supernatural with Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers History/true crime Wednesdays
Superstitions Alastair Murden Stories Wednesday
Survival Irma Blanco, Tim Johnson Documentary Mondays
Tales Vanessa Richardson Mythological retelling Wednesdays
The Dark Side of... Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Mondays
The Kennedys Miscellaneous Society/History/Culture N/A
Today in Music History Tim Johnson Music/History Daily
Today in True Crime Vanessa Richardson True crime Daily
Unexplained Mysteries Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner Investigative journalism Thursdays
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown Brené Brown Relationships Wednesdays
Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories Carter Roy, Wenndy Mackenzie True crime Tuesdays
Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers Documentary Tuesdays
Villains Alastair Murden Literary criticism Fridays
Whistleblowers Pat Rodrigurz True crime Tuesdays
Your Magic Michelle Tea Society/Culture Mondays

See also

Citations used
  1. "Spotify acquires true crime studio Parcast to expand its original podcast content". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. Leach, Kamaron (April 26, 2019). "Spotify's Podcast Bet With Parcast Sets the Stage for Earnings". Bloomberg. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. "Spotify Paid $100 Million For Parcast: Report". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  4. Massoudi, Arash; Nicolaou, Anna (2019-03-26). "Spotify to buy podcasting business Parcast for more than $100m". Financial Times. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  5. Sawers, Paul (April 29, 2019). "Spotify confirms it paid $56 million for Parcast, taking its total podcast acquisition value to $400 million". VentureBeat. Internet. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. Weprin, Alex (2023-06-05). "Spotify to Slash Podcast Workforce, Combine Parcast and Gimlet Studios in New Round of Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  7. Bromwich, Jonengel (April 4, 2018). "Pulp Nonfiction: Podcasts Go Mass-Market". The New York Times. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  8. Coyne, Marley (June 4, 2018). "Parcast Founder Max Cutler On Creating Original Content". Forbes. online. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  9. "About Parcast". Parcast. Parcast. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  10. Robb, David. "WGA East-Represented Gimlet & Parcast Employees Blast Parent Company Spotify In Wake Of Layoffs". Deadline. Deadline.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. Pietsch, Bryan. "Spotify cuts 200 jobs, gutting Gimlet Media as podcast boom sputters". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. "5 Fast Facts about Spotify's Acquisition of Parcast". March 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  13. "All". Parcast. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
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